r8 battery cover, how do I open it so I can change battery?

[Leif Mohlin]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi 

I bought a wonderful R8 a couple of years ago.  I then needed to change battery and as I remember it just went very smoothly. Now I have got a one year grandchild living in our flat this spring so I picked the R8. But the battery was dead and the compartment don't come off.  I can see the old threads that this has happened to several owners. But the threads are quit old. Is there any new tips? It feels like the lid is glued to the body. Of course it isn't but I guess the plastic softens and get a bit like "glueish".  I am a bit desperate as the one year old gets older for every day and I really would like to get a very nice photo before it is to late.

Cheers

 

[masjah]

Persevere following the tips in the old threads! It will eventually start to move and come off. I don't know why this happens, but loads of us had this problem. What is best avoided if at all possible is the insertion of a blade in the gap between the cover ad the body, as you'll almost certainly damage the narrow "chrome" trim strip. Good luck!

 

 

[masjah]

Here's a reply I made to this question in a much earlier thread:

 

R8s and R9s (including my own) are sometimes susceptible to this - I've never understood why, though it's more of a nuisance than anything else. Here's my technique, FWIW. Remove lens and fit body dust cap. Hold the camera with both hands, against your chest, base away from you, top against your chest, front uppermost. Hold the catch open with your right index finger, carefully insert your left thumbnail between the battery cover and the bottom of the chrome decorative strip, and push down. This usually gets it started, then it's fine. Personally I wouldn't use a knife blade, as the chrome strip is easily damaged.

Hope this helps!

 

[Leif Mohlin]

4 hours ago, masjah said:

Persevere following the tips in the old threads! It will eventually start to move and come off. I don't know why this happens, but loads of us had this problem. What is best avoided if at all possible is the insertion of a blade in the gap between the cover ad the body, as you'll almost certainly damage the narrow "chrome" trim strip. Good luck!

 

 

Thankyou!!!  I will continue the track that I already are following (without much luck so far ) 

[masjah]

PS: Please do try the procedure I suggested. I got out my R8 and R9 just now (which have no batteries in at the moment) to try removal of the battery cover. What I think may happen is this: the natural inclination is to push into the cover to get a grip in order to slide it downwards, and this may in itself be distorting it a bit, thereby causing it to bind. The procedure I outlined above avoids this. (It's analogous to trying to remove a lens filter if you grip the edge too hard, and distort it slightly.)

 

[jrh68uk]

I'll second the method described by John. Sometimes, if I get the right pressure and positioning I can remove the battery grips without a problem but usually I have to use a thumbnail just to get the initial downward movement started, and then it's fine.

[Leif Mohlin]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Finally the day before yesterday I got it off. Amazing really how hard was like glued and the suddenly just let go. Thanks for very good advice.  But as I will tell in e new thread all is not well with my camera.